NEW RIGHTS FOR DEAF PATIENTS - NEW RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MENTAL-HOSPITALS

In an era in which mental hospital administrators are confronted by sh rinking budgets and cost containment strategies in order to survive, t he recently enacted Americans with Disabilities Act requires their spe cial attention. This article addresses the anticipated effect of the A DA upon inpatient psychiatric facilities. We assume that adminstrators should anticipate increased ligation and settlement costs associated with specialized services to deaf and other qualifying patients who se ek equal access to psychiatric services provided in mental hospitals. It is our view that adminsitrators can reduce the cost of implementing specialized services to deaf patient by developing a proactive plan o f implementation. The authors analyze recent court consent decrees, an d offer a three step plan for implementation.